How far is Lexington-Fayette, KY from Monticello, KY?

The driving distance from Lexington-Fayette, KY to Monticello, KY is about 102.3 miles (164.6 km), with a travel time of about 01h 57m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 87 miles (140 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 03h 55m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
102.26 mi
01h 57m
Flight
86.97 mi
139.97 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Lexington-Fayette.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
86.97 mi
Kilometers
139.97 km
Flight Time
00h 10m

Driving Distance

Road route
102.26 mi
Kilometers
164.57 km
Drive Time
01h 57m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 01h 57m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Monticello
Sat, Apr 18, 6:02 AM EDT
Return by in Lexington-Fayette
Sat, Apr 18, 8:00 AM EDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Lexington-Fayette
2026-04-18T04:04
Arrive Monticello
Sat, Apr 18, 6:02 AM EDT
Route Timing
01h 57m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
9:58 AM to 11:58 AM EDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
2:34 PM EDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Lexington-Fayette
9:30 PM EDT
Morning start is best

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Mount Vernon
KY

City in Rockcastle County, Kentucky

From Lexington-Fayette
51.1 mi
00h 58m
To Monticello
51.1 mi
00h 58m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph SW
Destination
85°F
Saturday

Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM EDT
Wind
2 to 13 mph SSW

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Lexington-Fayette and Monticello.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lexington-Fayette and Monticello.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    560 ft · 43 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Floyd Drive

    937 ft · 26 sec · Floyd Drive

  3. 3

    Turn right onto East New Circle Road

    2414 ft · 50 sec · East New Circle Road

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight right toward US 60: Winchester, Lexington

    539 ft · 15 sec

  5. 5

    Keep slight left to continue on US 60 East: Winchester

    663 ft · 20 sec

  6. 6

    Continue on Winchester Road

    1.8 mi · 2 min · Winchester Road

  7. 7

    Take the exit right

    1358 ft · 33 sec

  8. 8

    Merge slight left

    47.2 mi · 51 min

  9. 9

    Take the exit slight right toward US 25: Renfro Valley, Mount Vernon

    1643 ft · 28 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on US 25: Renfro Valley, Mount Vernon

    100 m · 6 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto Richmond Street

    1 km · 49 sec · Richmond Street

  12. 12

    Turn straight onto Cumberland Lake Parkway

    18 mi · 21 min · Cumberland Lake Parkway

  13. 13

    Merge slight right onto Hal Rogers Parkway

    5.8 mi · 7 min · Hal Rogers Parkway

  14. 14

    Turn left

    1 mi · 1 min

  15. 15

    Continue straight

    3.3 mi · 4 min

  16. 16

    Turn left

    3.8 mi · 4 min

  17. 17

    Continue straight

    16.9 mi · 19 min

  18. 18

    Turn left

    2.2 mi · 4 min

  19. 19

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · North Main Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Lexington-Fayette and Monticello.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
19 steps
6 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
6
3 merges, 3 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
18.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Winchester Road
49.2 mi · 48%
Hal Rogers Parkway
26 mi · 25%
Cumberland Lake Parkway
18 mi · 18%
Richmond Street
0.65 mi · 1%
East New Circle Road
0.46 mi
US 25
0.37 mi
Longest Stretch

Winchester Road

Merge slight left

47.2 mi · 00h 51m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
01h 57m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
03h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+15.3 mi
87 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mount Vernon
00h 58m from Lexington-Fayette
Leave By
2:34 PM EDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Lexington-Fayette and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Monticello.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Lexington-Fayette to Monticello?

The road trip is about 102.3 miles (164.6 km) and usually takes 01h 57m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Mount Vernon is a useful midpoint, sitting about 51.1 miles from Lexington-Fayette and 51.1 miles from Monticello.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 87 miles (140 km), while the road route adds roughly 15.3 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM EDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 2:34 PM EDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $13.61 one way or $27.23 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 32.1 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Showers And Thunderstorms around Lexington-Fayette and Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near Monticello.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Lexington-Fayette and Monticello. Straight-line distance: 86.97 mi (139.97 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Lexington-Fayette

The most populous city in Kentucky and the center of the Lexington-Fayette metropolitan area.

Population314,488
Coordinates38.0498000, -84.4585500
Altitude305
CountryUnited States
Monticello

#2 Monticello

City in Kentucky, United States

Population5,906
Coordinates36.8297900, -84.8491100
Altitude281
CountryUnited States
Start: Lexington-Fayette (-84.45855, 38.0498)
End: Monticello (-84.84911, 36.82979)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 165 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)03h 24m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)02h 33m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 02m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)01h 42m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 27m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 16m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
3.61 gal
13.66 L · about $13.61
Round trip
$27.23
7.22 gal · 27.32 L
Estimated CO2
32.1 kg one way
Round trip: 64.2 kg / 142 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $13.61 $27.23
Mid-grade $4.25 $15.35 $30.71
Premium $4.65 $16.80 $33.60
Diesel $5.30 $19.15 $38.29

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Kentucky · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Lexington-Fayette and Monticello. The current time is 04:04:18.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.